When a cop runs a license plate, can he see....?

[bigbook]

Is it legal for an officer to pull you over because your plate comes up with a suspended DL. Don't you have to commit a traffic violation for them to stop you? It was night time and there was no way they could see who was driving. thanks

[Cat_Doc]

If you were driving on a suspended driver's license you were committing a traffic violation.

[bigbook]

thanks for the reply. I understand that that is an offence but is it lawful to get pulled over just because my plate comes back like that. If other ppl use my car they would get pulled over all the time and that doesnt seem right

[Citicop]

bigbook-

The standard of proof necessary to stop someone (either in a car or on foot) is "reasonable suspicion." This is a lower burden of proof necessary than what is needed to issue a ticket or make an arrest.

If the owner of a vehicle has a suspended driver's license, than it is reasonable to assume that the owner may be driving the car. A brief stop to investigate the possible criminal violation is certainly allowed.

-Citicop.

[Citicop]

And this thread is nearly a year old and the new poster has also posted this question in AAC. I think we can close this one in favor of the new thread.

-Citicop.